Festivals Culture

Sunday, April 14, 2013

How Hindus
Celebrate Durga Puja

Durga
Puja is known as one of the biggest festivals among the Hindus, especially the
Bengalis. Usually this festival is celebrated during the period of September
and October. This festival is celebrated through five long days.

From
the mythological point of view, the current time table of Durga Puja has
connections with the Ramayana. During the war in Lanka, Lord Rama started
worshipping Goddess Durga. Before that, the Durga Puja used to be held during
the spring time. But since that time people started to worship goddess Durga
during the autumn. Later Rama earned the blessings of Goddess Durga and was
able to beat Ravana during the war.

Nowadays,
Durga Puja became a cultural heritage and a cultural ‘industry’ especially in
Bengal. Durga Puja in West Bengal is considered as one of the biggest festivals
for a community all over the world. The beautiful Durga Idols and architecture
attract the people from all over the world.

How Hindus
celebrate Diwali

Diwali
is considered as the festival of light among the Hindus. Diwali is also
considered as a huge day for the businessmen as worship Laxmi and Ganesha – the
financial gods on this day. On other hand, the people of eastern India
celebrate Diwali through the offerings to Goddess Kali.

It
doesn’t matter if the offerings are for either Goddess kali or Laxmi and
Ganesha, the ultimate aim is to welcome the good or the light by killing the
evil or the darkness. People use to decorate their rooms and terraces using the
LED lights and the candles. Each and every household looks so beautiful this
day. People use to burn the crackers and fireworks on this day too. Sweets and
good wishes are exchanged among the friends and relatives. According to the
mythology, Diwali was celebrated for the first time among the people of
Ayodhya, when Lord Rama came back after 14 years to his place.

How Hindus
celebrate Holi

Holi
is considered as the festival of the colors, simplicity and gladness. Actually
Holi is a festival of one of its own kind. One can compare the uniqueness of
this festival only with the festivals like Tomatina festival or the Mud
festival.

On
the day of Holi, people forget all the mental differences between them. They
start competing each other on only one matter – how much and how many different
colors can they impose on each other. This event takes place during a full moon
and usually in the month of March. Laxmi Puja is also held during this
festival. This festival has some mythological connections with Lord Krishna.

Usually
people use a finely powdered color called ‘Gulal’ during Holi. They apply the
‘gulal’ of various colors to their friends and relatives. Children also use
colored water to color their friends. It is also a day to earn blessings from
the elders and send good wishes to friends.

How Hindus
Celebrate Dashara

Dashara
is considered as one of the prime festivals of the Hindus. This festival
symbolizes the win of the good on the evil. The festival is held on the last
day of Durga Puja i.e. the Vijaya Dashami. Precisely, this festival is
celebrated among the Hindus of North India.

According
to the mythology, this festival is celebrated on the occasion of the victory of
Rama, savior over Ravana, the evil king of Lanka. During the festival the huge
effigies of Ravana and Kumbhakarna are made, full of crackers. Considering
those effigies as the symbol evils people organize a drama where the roles of
Lord Rama, Laxmana, Sita and Hanuman are portrayed by the artists. This drama
is known as the ‘Ramlila’. At the conclusion of the Ramlila, the effigies are
set on fire and the crackers start to burst. In this way the victory of good on
the evil is celebrated on the day of Dashara.